Mariska Hargitay

American actress and producer (born 1964)

Mariska Hargitay

Hargitay in 2025

Born|

Mariska Magdolna Hargitay

(1964-01-23) January 23, 1964 (age 61)

Santa Monica, California, U.S.

Occupations|

* Actress
* philanthropist
* producer
* director

Years active| 1984–present
Spouse|

Peter Hermann

(m. 2004)​

Children| 3[a]
Parent(s)| Jayne Mansfield (mother)
Mickey Hargitay (father)
Relatives| Jayne Marie Mansfield (half-sister)
Awards| Full list
Signature

Mariska Magdolna Hargitay[1][2] (/məˈrɪʃkə ˈhɑːrɡɪteɪ/;[3] born January 23, 1964)[4] is an American actress, philanthropist, producer, and director known for starring as Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She has played the character since 1999, making it the longest-running character in American primetime drama in history. Her accolades for the role include an Emmy and a Golden Globe. In 2013, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Hargitay was born in Santa Monica, California, and is the daughter of actress Jayne Mansfield. She attended Marymount High School in Los Angeles and enrolled in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, leaving before completing her degree to pursue acting. Her other credits include the series Falcon Crest and In the Heat of the Night (both 1988), Tequila and Bonetti (1992), Can't Hurry Love (1995–1996), and ER (1997–1998), and the drama film Leaving Las Vegas (1995).

Outside of acting, Hargitay co-produced the HBO documentary I Am Evidence (2017), winning a News and Documentary Emmy for the project. In 2025, she launched the production company Mighty Entertainment, under which she released the documentary My Mom Jayne, which is her film directorial debut.

Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, which provides support to people who have been sexually abused. She is a certified rape counselor and has engaged in initiatives to support domestic violence shelters and raise awareness about untested rape kits.

## Early life

[edit]

Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield, circa 1960

Hargitay was born at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.[1][5] She is the daughter of actress and 1950s-era sex symbol Jayne Mansfield. Her father was the Hungarian-born former Mr. Universe, Mickey Hargitay; Her first and middle names are Hungarian and refer to Mary Magdalene (Mariska is a diminutive of Mary).[5] She was raised Catholic. Jayne Mansfield had four other children: Jayne Marie Mansfield, Miklós "Mickey" Hargitay, Jr., Zoltán Hargitay, and Antonio "Tony" Cimber.[6][7]

In 1962, troubles arose in Mansfield and Hargitay's marriage after Mansfield had an affair with an Italian filmmaker.[8] Mansfield and Hargitay divorced in May 1963, but a judge later found their Mexican divorce invalid. After Mansfield realized she was pregnant with Mariska, she and Hargitay reconciled in January 1964. However, they soon separated again.[9] In August 1964, Hargitay's mother successfully petitioned the court to rule the Mexican divorce legal.[10]

On June 29, 1967, Mariska was in an automobile crash on a stretch of U.S. Route 90 between New Orleans and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The accident ripped off the top of the car, instantly killing Mansfield,[11] her boyfriend Sam Brody, and a driver named Ronnie Harrison. Asleep in the back of the vehicle, three-and-a-half-year-old Mariska and her brothers, Miklós and Zoltán, escaped with minor injuries.[12] The accident left Mariska with a zig-zag scar on her head.[13]

After the death of their mother, Hargitay and her brothers were raised by Mickey Hargitay and his third wife, Ellen Siano.[14][1] Hargitay dislikes comparisons with her famous mother and, at age 18, said, "My dad was Mr. Universe, so it would be fun for me to be Miss Universe".[15] Hargitay has said that the early loss of her mother left "a hole in my life that won't ever be filled. I will never get over it. I will always be a girl who lost her mom".[11] Mickey Hargitay died in September 2006 from multiple myeloma in Los Angeles, California, at age 80.[16][17]

While a student at her Catholic secondary school, Marymount High School, Hargitay was active in cheerleading, student government, athletics, and the theater program.[18] She enjoyed acting and enrolled at UCLA after graduation from high school in 1982. That same year, Hargitay was crowned Miss Beverly Hills USA.[19] By the time she was a freshman in college, Hargitay had an agent and several small roles to her credit. She attended UCLA School of Theater Film and Television where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.[20][21] She left before completing her degree.[1] Hargitay attended Groundlings Theatre and School in Los Angeles.[22]

## Career

[edit]

### Early years and roles

[edit]

After Hargitay was crowned Miss Beverly Hills USA,[19] she competed in the Miss California USA pageant the following year and placed fourth runner-up to Julie Hayek, who was later crowned Miss USA.[23] In 1984, Hargitay appeared in Ronnie Milsap's music video for "She Loves My Car", the first country music video to appear on MTV.[24] A year later she had a small role in the horror film Ghoulies.[25] Hargitay has appeared on numerous other television programs, including: Freddy's Nightmares – A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series; Ellen; All-American Girl; Baywatch; Cracker; Gabriel's Fire; In the Heat of the Night; The Single Guy; Wiseguy; and thirtysomething. Her voice is featured on the 2005 video game True Crime: New York City. Hargitay also had a minor role in the 1995 film Leaving Las Vegas.[citation needed]

Hargitay briefly replaced Gabrielle Fitzpatrick as Dulcea in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, although her scenes were cut from the film when Fitzpatrick recovered from her surgery and returned to the film.[26]

In 1988, she had a recurring role as Carly Fixx in the soap opera Falcon Crest.[24] Hargitay played Jill Banner in the Japanese-American co-production Strawberry Road in 1991. She portrayed police officer Angela Garcia in the 1992 series Tequila and Bonetti and appeared in the two-part fourth season finale episode of Seinfeld, where they had her read for the role of Elaine Benes in "The Pilot". She was considered for the character of Elaine Benes on Seinfeld itself before it began.[27] Two years later, Hargitay portrayed Didi Edelstein, the sexy next-door neighbor, in the 1995 sitcom Can't Hurry Love, which starred Nancy McKeon. In 1997, Hargitay played detective Nina Echeverria on the drama series Prince Street, and had a recurring role as inept desk clerk Cynthia Hooper during the fourth season of ER.[28]

Hargitay said in 1986 that she never thought about doing television until a role on the one-hour adventure drama series Downtown was offered.[25] In fact, she experienced difficulties in her efforts to begin a career as a Hollywood actor.[11] Hargitay endured frequent comparisons to her mother.[11]

### Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

[edit]

Hargitay attending the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards (2008)

Hargitay is best known for her portrayal of Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU.[29][30] Benson is the longest-running character on the longest-running American primetime drama in history.[31]

Casting for the lead characters of NBC police procedural television drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit occurred in the spring of 1999. Dick Wolf, along with officials from NBC and Studios USA, was at the final auditions for the two leads at Rockefeller Center. The last round had been narrowed down to six finalists. For the female lead – Detective Olivia Benson – Samantha Mathis, Reiko Aylesworth, and Hargitay were being considered. For the male lead – Detective Elliot Stabler – the finalists were Tim Matheson, John Slattery, and Christopher Meloni. Meloni and Hargitay had auditioned in the final round together, and after the actors left, there was a moment of dead silence, after which Wolf blurted out, "Oh well. There's no doubt who we should choose – Hargitay and Meloni." The duo, who Wolf believed had the perfect chemistry from the first time he saw them together, were his first choice. Garth Ancier, then head of NBC Entertainment, agreed, and the rest of the panel assembled voiced their assent.[32]

Hargitay trained as a rape crisis advocate to prepare for the role of Benson.[33] She has portrayed Benson since 1999.[34] Hargitay won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the role. She received UCLA's TFT Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011 and was honored at the school's June commencement ceremony.[35] During the last months of her pregnancy in 2006, Hargitay took maternity leave from SVU, and was temporarily replaced by Connie Nielsen, who portrayed Stabler's temporary partner Dani Beck.[36][37]

In late December 2008, Hargitay suffered a partially collapsed lung after taking a fall during a stunt on the set of SVU. She underwent surgery in January and returned to work shortly afterward.[38] On March 3, 2009, she was hospitalized after suffering from chest pains related to the injury.[39] She missed one episode on SVU's tenth season. In May 2009, after the show's tenth season, Hargitay and Meloni's contracts expired when they were reportedly making $375,000–$385,000 per episode.[40][41] During negotiations in April for a new contract, the duo attempted to receive a percentage of the show's profits as other high-profile Law and Order actors had done in the past. It was rumored that NBC threatened to replace Hargitay and Meloni if they persisted in their demands.[42] However, two months later it was officially reported that both their contracts had been renewed for two more years.[41] When the thirteenth season was about to air, initial reports indicated that Hargitay would appear in only the first 13 episodes.[43] However, NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt later clarified that she would be in every episode of the season.[44]

As of August 2012, Hargitay was earning approximately $400,000[45]–$500,000 per episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[46] In 2013, Hargitay was awarded with the 2,511th star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her star was placed next to the star of her mother, which is located at 6328 Hollywood Boulevard.[47] In 2013 and 2014, she was ranked by Forbes as the second-highest-paid television actress, after only Sofía Vergara of Modern Family.[48] In the following years, Hargitay continued to be considered one of the highest-paid television actresses in the world,[49] making well over $500,000 per episode.[50]

In July 2021, Hargitay suffered a broken ankle after taking a fall in the rain while leaving the screening of Black Widow.[51] Her injury caused minor script changes and was written into the season 23 premiere of SVU.[52] In 2025, Forbes named Hargitay as the 11th highest-paid actor of 2024, 2nd highest-paid actress after Nicole Kidman, and the highest-paid actor on television by a wide-margin, earning an estimated $750,000 per episode between acting, producing, and syndication profits from 26 seasons of SVU.[53]

### Other work

[edit]

In January 2007, she and her older son appeared in a Got Milk? advertisement.[54]

At the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, Hargitay won the "Video of the Year" Award, shared with Taylor Swift and all of the celebrities that appeared in the music video for Swift's song "Bad Blood".[55][56]

Hargitay has produced a documentary, I Am Evidence. Released by HBO in 2018, the documentary discusses the thousands of untested rape kits in the United States. Hargitay called the reality of untested rape kits "the clearest and most shocking demonstration of how we regard these crimes in our country."[57] The film received Best Documentary at the 40th News and Documentary Emmy Awards, winning Hargitay her second Emmy and first as a producer.[58]

Hargitay was a guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional on December 19 and 20, 2022.[59]

In 2025, Hargitay announced the launch of Mighty Entertainment, a production company with her feature film directorial debut My Mom Jayne, released in the United States in June 2025, which delves into the life and death of her mother Jayne Mansfield, as the first project.[60]

## Other ventures

[edit]

Hargitay reading Oh! The Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss at the 2010 White House Easter Egg Roll

### Joyful Heart Foundation

[edit]

Hargitay is the founder and former president of the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization established in 2004 to provide support to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse and human trafficking.[61][62] According to Hargitay, she was inspired by an encounter with a pod of dolphins that surrounded her while she was swimming off the coast of Hawaii at the age of 15. The encounter, which had ignited profound spiritual feelings within her, was one that Hargitay hoped to share with others.[citation needed]

In November 2009, Hargitay and the Joyful Heart Foundation built healing and wellness kits for women who suffered domestic violence and were living in the Los Angeles County's domestic violence shelters.[63] They created enough kits to give one to each of about 600 women.[63] In California, the domestic violence services budget was in a major crisis, and shelters were forced to turn women away. Hargitay and her foundation donated money to the cause.[63] Hargitay has worked with Michigan Police and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to raise awareness about the statistics of untested rape kits. Hargitay appeared in the 17th season of NBC's The More You Know public service announcements in 2006,[64] and again in the spring of 2009.[65] She is an honorary board member director of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.[66]

As of November 2010, the Joyful Heart Foundation had sent over 5,000 women and children on therapeutic programs in New York, Los Angeles, and Hawaii, which combine yoga, meditation, massage, journaling, and swimming with dolphins.[33] According to Hargitay, the Foundation had raised $20 million as of April 2011.[67] Reference to the Joyful Heart Foundation was worked into episodes of Special Victims Unit, via a necklace containing two pendants representing the Foundation that Hargitay's character began wearing in the show's 13th season.[68] The Foundation works with several brands to create products supporting the cause, including Me&Ro, Michael Stars, and AZIAM's Wife Lover Tanks.[69]

### Continued activism

[edit]

On September 27, 2011, Hargitay donated $100,000 to her alma mater, the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television for scholarship.[70] In 2012, Hargitay campaigned for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).[71] In 2025, Hargitay was included on the inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list for her work.[72]

### Rape counseling

[edit]

Hargitay is a certified rape counselor, as reported in 2004.[11] As a rape survivor, she has called for an end to the stigma surrounding sexual assault. In a personal essay published by People, she wrote, "Tell someone you’ve survived cancer, and you’re celebrated. I want the same response for sexual assault survivors. I want no shame with the victim."[73]

## Personal life

[edit]

On August 28, 2004, in Santa Barbara, California, Hargitay married Peter Hermann, an actor she met on the set of Law & Order: SVU.[74][75] Hermann plays the recurring role of defense attorney Trevor Langan on Law & Order: SVU. On June 28, 2006, Hargitay gave birth to their son by an emergency caesarean section.[76][77] In April 2011, she and her husband adopted a baby girl and attended her birth.[75][78] In October 2011, she and her husband adopted a son who had been born in 2011.[79][80]

Hargitay speaks five languages: English, French, Hungarian, Spanish, and Italian.[81] She is the godmother to Sophia, one of co-star Christopher Meloni's children.[82] Actress Hilary Swank is her daughter's godmother.[83]

In a 2010 interview with Good Housekeeping, Hargitay stated that she considers herself a Christian.[84][85]

In 2024, Hargitay published a personal essay stating that she is a rape survivor.[86]

## Filmography

[edit]

### Television

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1986  | Downtown | Jesse Smith  | Main role
1987–1988  | Falcon Crest | Carly Fixx | Recurring role
1988  | In the Heat of the Night | Audine Higgs  | Episode: "...And Then You Die"
Freddy's Nightmares | Marsha Wildmon  | Episode: "Freddy's Tricks and Treats"
1989  | Finish Line | Lisa Karsh  | TV movie
Baywatch | Lisa Peters  | Episode: "Second Wave"
1990  | Wiseguy | Debbie Vitale  | Episode: "Romp"
thirtysomething | Courtney Dunn  | Episode: "Fathers and Lovers"
Booker | Michelle Larkina  | Episode: "Black Diamond Run"
Gabriel's Fire | Carmen  | Episode: "Windows"
1991  | Adam-12 | Michelle Brown  | Episode: "Anatomy of a Rape"
1992  | Tequila and Bonetti | Officer Angela Garcia  | Main role
Grapevine | Katie  | Episode: "The Katie and Adam Story"
1993  | Hotel Room | Diane  | Episodes: "Getting Rid of Robert" & "Blackout"
Blind Side | Melanie  | TV movie
Key West | Laurel  | Episode: "Less Moonlight"
Seinfeld | Melissa Shannon  | Episode: "The Pilot"
1994  | Gambler V: Playing for Keeps | Etta Place | TV movie
1995  | All-American Girl | Jane  | Episode: "Young Americans"
1995–1996  | Can't Hurry Love | Didi Edelstein  | Main role
1996  | Ellen | Dara  | Episode: "The Mugging"
The Lazarus Man | The Angel Maker  | Episode: "1.15"
The Single Guy | Kate Conklin / Mounted Cop  | 3 episodes
1997  | Night Sins | Paige Price  | TV movie
Prince Street | Nina Echeverria  | Recurring role; 6 episodes
Cracker | Penny Hatfield  | Episode: "True Romance 1"
The Advocate's Devil | Rendi  | TV movie
1997–1998  | ER | Cynthia Hooper | Recurring role
1999  | Love, American Style | Wendy  | Segment: "Love and the Blind Date"
1999–present  | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Olivia Benson | Main role; producer & director
2000–2024  | Law & Order | Recurring role
2004  | Plain Truth | Ellie Harrison  | TV movie
2005  | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Olivia Benson  | Episode: "Day"
2010  | Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List | Herself  | Episode: "Kathy with a Z"
2011  | Barefoot Contessa | Episode: "Sweet Charity"
2014–2016  | Chicago P.D. | Olivia Benson  | Episodes: "They'll Have to Go Through Me", "The Number of Rats" & "The Song of Gregory Williams Yates"
2015  | Chicago Fire | Episode: "We Called Her Jellybean"
The Jim Gaffigan Show | Herself  | Episode: "Maria"
2017  | Nightcap | Episode: "Guest in a Snake"
2019  | Saturday Night Live | Olivia Benson  | Cameo
2021–present  | Law & Order: Organized Crime | Recurring role
2022  | Gutsy | Herself  | Episode 3

### Film

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1985  | Ghoulies | Donna  |
1986  | Welcome to 18 | Joey  |
1987  | Jocks | Nicole  |
1988  | Mr. Universe | Herself  |
1991  | Hard Time Romance | Anita  |
The Perfect Weapon | Jennifer  |
Strawberry Road | Jill Banner  |
1993  | Bank Robber | Marisa Benoit  |
1995  | Leaving Las Vegas | Hooker at Bar  |
1999  | Lake Placid | Myra Okubo  |
2001  | Perfume | Darcy  | Credited as Marishka Hargitay
2006  | Tales from Earthsea | Tenar  | Voice role
2008  | The Love Guru | Herself  | Cameo
2017  | I Am Evidence | Producer of documentary
2025  | My Mom Jayne | Director of documentary

### Video games

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

2005  | True Crime: New York City | Lt. Deena Dixon  | [87]

### Music videos

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Artist  | Notes

|
|
|

1984  | "She Loves My Car"  | Ronnie Milsap | [88]
2015  | "Bad Blood"  | Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar | Justice[89]
2021  | "93 Days"  | Grace Gaustad | Dr. Har
2022  | "Disappear"  |
"The Cloud"  |

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Mariska Hargitay

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ One biological child and two adopted children.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Gelt, Jessica (November 10, 2013). "Mariska Hargitay". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020. "Born Mariska Magdolna Hargitay on Jan. 23, 1964 in Santa Monica, CA ... ."
2. ^ Inside the Actors Studio: Mariska Hargitay (television production). The Actors Studio. September 22, 2014. Mariska says her own first name and the name of her presumptive father, Mickey Hargitay; the interviewer, James Lipton, also says her full name near the start of the show.
3. ^ "Say How: H". National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
4. ^ "Focus Forum". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans, LA. October 1, 1995. p. T14.
5. ^ a b "Birth of Mariska Hargitay". tessa2.lapl.org. Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved May 20, 2025. "dated January 24, 1964 reads, "Jayne Mansfield, with new daughter, Mariska Magdolna--Mary Magdalena in Hungarian--and husband Mickey Hargitay at St. John's Hospital, Santa Monica"
6. ^ Tremaine, Julie (June 9, 2024). "Jayne Mansfield's 5 Children: All About the Late Actress' Daughters and Sons". People. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
7. ^ "Inside Mariska Hargitay's Unique Journey: Surviving a Hollywood Tragedy, Speaking Up and Scoring the Best Gig on TV". E! Online. January 23, 2019. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
8. ^ Cagle, Jess (January 15, 1993). "Jayne Mansfield's short-lived union". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
9. ^ VeVea, April (July 2, 2017). "Jayne and Her Husbands". Classic Blondes. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
10. ^ Djordjevic, Marta (January 13, 2022). "The Truth About Jayne Mansfield's Relationship With Mickey Hargitay". Grunge. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
11. ^ a b c d e Coyne, Kate (October 2004). "Surviving the past". Good Housekeeping. Vol. 239, no. 4\. pp. 162–165 – via EBSCOhost Connection.[dead link]
12. ^ Eidell, Lynsey (June 29, 2025). "Jayne Mansfield's Death: Revisiting the Fatal Car Accident and Her Hollywood Legacy, 58 Years Later". People.com.
13. ^ Finn, Natalie (June 14, 2025). "Inside the Tragic True Story of Mariska Hargitay's Mother Jayne Mansfield". E! Online.
14. ^ Josh Lezmi (April 1, 2020). "How 'SVU' Star Mariska Hargitay Describes Her Stepmom, Ellen Hargitay". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2020. "Mickey Hargitay soon remarried Ellen Siano in 1967 (he divorced Mansfield in 1964). Ellen Siano went on to be the motherly figure in Mariska Hargitay's life."
15. ^ Graydon, Carter E. (June 7, 1982). "People: Jun. 7, 1982". Time. p. 2\. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011.
16. ^ Bonawitz, Amy (September 19, 2006). "Actor Mickey Hargitay Dead At 80". CBS News. CBS Corporation. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2006.
17. ^ McLellan, Dennis (September 20, 2006), "Bodybuilder-actor Mickey Hargitay dies", Bangor Daily News, p. 25, archived from the original on April 24, 2022, retrieved January 25, 2010
18. ^ Woliman Rusoff, Jane (February 14, 2001). "Jayne's little girl kicks on". Herald Sun. The Herald and Weekly Times. p. H10.
19. ^ a b Graydon, Carter E. (June 7, 1982). "People: Jun. 7, 1982". Time. p. 1\. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
20. ^ "Bruin Life 1983, The Yearbook at UCLA". University of California, Los Angeles. Internet Archive. 1983. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
21. ^ "NOTABLE ALUMNI ACTORS". UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
22. ^ Virtel, Louis (March 4, 2010). "Was Kathy Griffin's Censored SVU Scene Payback from an Injured Mariska Hargitay?". Movieline. PMC. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
23. ^ Gladstone, Mark (January 10, 1983). "New Rules Make Runner-up in Beauty Contest a Winner". Los Angeles Times.
24. ^ a b Buck, Jerry (January 7, 1988). "Mariska Hargitay Joins 'Falcon Crest' Cast". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. p. 4.
25. ^ a b Mills, Bart (August 12, 1986). "Hargitay goes 'Downtown'". Daily Breeze. Hermosa Beach, California. p. C1.
26. ^ "Interview with David Yost Part 2". YouTube. August 25, 2010. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
27. ^ "Seinfeld: The Actresses Who Almost Played Elaine Benes". ScreenRant. January 1, 2022. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
28. ^ "11 'E.R.' Characters Who Deserve Way More Love, From Cynthia Hooper To Lucy Knight". Bustle. April 2, 2018. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
29. ^ "Mariska Hargitay turns 60: look back at her Hollywood upbringing, 20-year love story, and life as Olivia Benson". HELLO!. January 23, 2024.
30. ^ "Fans Beg Mariska Hargitay To Be Careful After Seeing Her 'Terrifying' IG". Women's Health. July 25, 2022.
31. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (September 25, 2019). "As 'SVU' Makes History, Mariska Hargitay Makes Olivia Benson's Mission Her Own". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
32. ^ Green, Susan; Dawn, Randee (2009). Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Unofficial Companion. New York City: BenBella Books. p. 11\. ISBN 978-1-933771-88-5.
33. ^ a b Oglethorpe, Alice (November 2010). "Real American Heroes". Shape. p. 186.
34. ^ Vivinetto, Gina (March 29, 2019). "'Law & Order: SVU' just made TV history — here's what Mariska Hargitay said". Today.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
35. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (September 27, 2011). "'Law & Order: SVU's' Mariska Hargitay Donates $100,000 to UCLA". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 3, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
36. ^ Silverman, Stephen (January 25, 2006). "Maternity Leave Looms for Mariska Hargitay". People. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
37. ^ "SVU "Replaces" Benson". TV Guide. February 1, 2006. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
38. ^ "Mariska Hargitay Says "Stunt" Led to Partially Collapsed Lung". TV Guide. May 19, 2009. Archived from the original on May 22, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2009.
39. ^ "Mariska Hargitay hospitalized for chest pains". Access Hollywood. March 4, 2009. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2009 – via Today.
40. ^ Schneider, Michael (June 29, 2009). "Meloni, Hargitay seal deal with 'SVU'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 16, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
41. ^ a b Martin, Denise (June 29, 2009). "'Law & Order: SVU' stars Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay sign on for two more years". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 19, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
42. ^ Ausiello, Michael (April 8, 2009). "'SVU' exclusive: NBC to replace Chris and Mariska?!". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 19, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
43. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 14, 2011). "Law & Order: SVU Scoop: Hargitay Inks New Deal, Jennifer Love Hewitt May Succeed Her". TVLine. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
44. ^ Porter, Rick (August 1, 2011). "'Law & Order: SVU': Mariska Hargitay isn't going anywhere, NBC chief says". Zap2it. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
45. ^ Battaglio, Stephen; Schneider, Michael (August 26, 2013). "What They Earn". TV Guide. pp. 16–20.
46. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (April 20, 2012). "'Law & Order: SVU' Star Mariska Hargitay Inks New Deal With Universal Television (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
47. ^ "Mariska Hargitay to join mum on Hollywood Walk of Fame". Hollywood.com. November 1, 2013. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
48. ^ "No. 2: Mariska Hargitay - 2015-05-12 - The Highest-Paid TV Actresses Of 2014". Forbes. May 12, 2015. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
49. ^ Berg, Madeline (September 14, 2016). "The World's Highest-Paid TV Actresses 2016: Sofia Vergara Stays The Queen Of The Small Screen With $43 Million". Forbes. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
50. ^ "You're Not Prepared for Mariska Hargitay's Net Worth Thanks to 'Law & Order: SVU'". Cosmopolitan. January 17, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
51. ^ "Mariska Hargitay Reveals She Broke Her Right Ankle: 'Summer Look'". Peoplemag. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
52. ^ Roots, Kimberly (August 4, 2021). "SVU: Will Mariska Hargitay's Recent Injury Affect Benson's Season 23?". TVLine. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
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## Further reading

[edit]

* D'Arminio, Aubry. "Mariska Hargitay Biography". Allrovi. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2010.

* Ryzik, Melena (June 19, 2025). "Mariska Hargitay Comes to Terms With a Lifetime of Family Secrets". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mariska Hargitay.

* Joyful Heart Foundation, founded by Hargitay
* Mariska Hargitay at IMDb

Awards for Mariska Hargitay

* v
* t
* e

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

1954–1975|

* Loretta Young (1954)
* Loretta Young (1956)
* Loretta Young (1959)
* Barbara Stanwyck (1961)
* Barbara Stanwyck (1966)
* Barbara Bain (1967)
* Barbara Bain (1968)
* Barbara Bain (1969)
* Susan Hampshire (1970)
* Susan Hampshire (1971)
* Glenda Jackson (1972)
* Michael Learned (1973)
* Michael Learned (1974)
* Jean Marsh (1975)

1976–2000|

* Michael Learned (1976)
* Lindsay Wagner (1977)
* Sada Thompson (1978)
* Mariette Hartley (1979)
* Barbara Bel Geddes (1980)
* Barbara Babcock (1981)
* Michael Learned (1982)
* Tyne Daly (1983)
* Tyne Daly (1984)
* Tyne Daly (1985)
* Sharon Gless (1986)
* Sharon Gless (1987)
* Tyne Daly (1988)
* Dana Delany (1989)
* Patricia Wettig (1990)
* Patricia Wettig (1991)
* Dana Delany (1992)
* Kathy Baker (1993)
* Sela Ward (1994)
* Kathy Baker (1995)
* Kathy Baker (1996)
* Gillian Anderson (1997)
* Christine Lahti (1998)
* Edie Falco (1999)
* Sela Ward (2000)

2001–present|

* Edie Falco (2001)
* Allison Janney (2002)
* Edie Falco (2003)
* Allison Janney (2004)
* Patricia Arquette (2005)
* Mariska Hargitay (2006)
* Sally Field (2007)
* Glenn Close (2008)
* Glenn Close (2009)
* Kyra Sedgwick (2010)
* Julianna Margulies (2011)
* Claire Danes (2012)
* Claire Danes (2013)
* Julianna Margulies (2014)
* Viola Davis (2015)
* Tatiana Maslany (2016)
* Elisabeth Moss (2017)
* Claire Foy (2018)
* Jodie Comer (2019)
* Zendaya (2020)
* Olivia Colman (2021)
* Zendaya (2022)
* Sarah Snook (2023)
* Anna Sawai (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama

1969–1979|

* Linda Cristal (1969)
* Peggy Lipton (1970)
* Patricia Neal (1971)
* Gail Fisher (1972)
* Lee Remick (1973)
* Angie Dickinson (1974)
* Lee Remick (1975)
* Susan Blakely (1976)
* Lesley Ann Warren (1977)
* Rosemary Harris (1978)
* Natalie Wood (1979)

1980–1999|

* Yoko Shimada (1980)
* Linda Evans / Barbara Bel Geddes (1981)
* Joan Collins (1982)
* Jane Wyman (1983)
* Angela Lansbury (1984)
* Sharon Gless (1985)
* Angela Lansbury (1986)
* Susan Dey (1987)
* Jill Eikenberry (1988)
* Angela Lansbury (1989)
* Sharon Gless / Patricia Wettig (1990)
* Angela Lansbury (1991)
* Regina Taylor (1992)
* Kathy Baker (1993)
* Claire Danes (1994)
* Jane Seymour (1995)
* Gillian Anderson (1996)
* Christine Lahti (1997)
* Keri Russell (1998)
* Edie Falco (1999)

2000–2019|

* Sela Ward (2000)
* Jennifer Garner (2001)
* Edie Falco (2002)
* Frances Conroy (2003)
* Mariska Hargitay (2004)
* Geena Davis (2005)
* Kyra Sedgwick (2006)
* Glenn Close (2007)
* Anna Paquin (2008)
* Julianna Margulies (2009)
* Katey Sagal (2010)
* Claire Danes (2011)
* Claire Danes (2012)
* Robin Wright (2013)
* Ruth Wilson (2014)
* Taraji P. Henson (2015)
* Claire Foy (2016)
* Elisabeth Moss (2017)
* Sandra Oh (2018)
* Olivia Colman (2019)

2020–present|

* Emma Corrin (2020)
* Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (2021)
* Zendaya (2022)
* Sarah Snook (2023)
* Anna Sawai (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Jayne Mansfield

* Performances
* In popular culture

Family|

* Mickey Hargitay
* Jayne Marie Mansfield
* Mariska Hargitay
* Matt Cimber

Publicity|

* Jayne Mansfield–Sophia Loren photo
* Jayne Mansfield's Pink Palace
* Jayne Mansfield's leopard spot bikini

Works on Mansfield|

* The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield
* Mansfield 66/67
* Jayne Mansfield's Car
* The Jayne Mansfield Story
* My Mom Jayne

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Czech Republic
* Netherlands
* Israel

Artists|

* MusicBrainz
* Emmy Awards

*[m.]: married
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template